143 Calories per Day

I know we all want the quick fix, but did you ever stop to think that you could lose 15 pounds over the course of a year if you created a 143 calorie per day deficit? Seriously, do the math.

1 lb = 3,500 calories

3,500 x 15 = 52,500 calories/365 days = 143.83

There are roughly 143 calories in:

• one flour tortilla 
• six hershey kisses 
• 21 almonds 
• 1 oz of potato chips
• 1/4 cup of chocolate ice cream
• one grande skim latte 
• 6 oz of red wine or one beer 

Most of us could cut 143 calories a day out of our diet and not feel hungry or really even miss them. 


On the flip side, it's not that hard to burn an extra 143 calories a day.

• 30 minutes of walking, about 1.5 miles or 3,000 steps
• 15 minutes of stair climbing
• 30 minutes of gardening
• 30 minutes playing with kids (moderate effort)
• 15 minutes of swimming
• 15 minutes of biking

Think in terms of spreading this additional activity throughout the day. It doesn't have to be done all at one time. Slap on a pedometer and try to get in an extra 3,000 steps. 


I've been contemplating how fine the line is between gaining and losing weight quite a bit lately. No wonder the pounds tend to sneak up on us. 

And, a little more about the wine in this two minute news segment.

Alcohol Makes Weight Loss More Difficult: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Update 10/13/2011:
Extra Tastes Can Turn Into a Pound of Weight Gain in a Week